Photos: Toots & The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011

Toots & The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Fredrick "Toots" Hibbert frozen in motion during an explosive performance at Knitting Factory Concert House...

Honestly, I was a bit nervous while handing my Nevada state ID to the young woman at the side entrance at Knitting Factory Concert House this past Tuesday evening, and frankly there was good reason.  Toots & The Maytals are one of the few existing essential reggae groups still left in the world, and the sheer fact that they are touring in 2011 blows my mind.

To be completely honest, when I arrived at the venue, maybe 15 minutes prior to show time it looked a bit empty.  What happened in the next half hour however, was pure magic.  The Maytals’ band members (minus Toots) took the stage and began playing a little dub for the house, while lead guitarist Carl Harvey announced that Toots’ daughter, Leba Hibbert, would join them for a special opening set.

As I began shooting the floor did begin to fill, and an uplifting atmosphere began to fill the room.  Shortly thereafter Toots took the stage and played what he described as a show comprised of “all #1’s”.  I’d describe it more as the culmination of 50 years of honing a musical craft, and still keeping it fresh enough to get the crowd jumping up and down for nearly an hour straight.

For those who might not be intimately familiar with Toots & The Maytals’ background, we elaborated a bit HERE before the show.

While steadily making my way back and forth across the stage in the pit, I was able to make the most of my three song no flash limit, using my Nikon D7000 armed with the ultra lightweight fast 50mm f/1.8D Nikon prime lens.  For this set I had the ISO pretty high (2000), maintained a wide open aperture of 1.8 and kept the shutter speed at 1/250th of a second; all of which kept the lighting natural, the action frozen in time and the magic right here in Reno, even as the tour moves on.

My only regret?  Not getting more shots of Jackie Jackson

VIEW THE FULL TOOTS & THE MAYTALS GALLERY HERE

Toots and The Maytals @ Knittng Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Dougie Bryan keepin' the rhythm strong...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knittng Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Charles Farquharson elevating moods on the keys...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Carl Harvey's lead guitar kept the whole place rockin'...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knittng Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Leba Hibbert (L) and Gwen Jackson (R) keeping the backup soulful...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Toots caught in the lens flare...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knittng Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Paul Douglas keepin' the beat...
Toots and The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
A prime example of the energy level of a Toots & The Maytals show in 2011...

 

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

Do you buy stuff online? Do you buy camera stuff online? If this post or anything else on ishootreno.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and making your next photo gear, music or general purchase through one of our affiliate links:

Every time our readers buy new gear through our affiliate links, it helps us bring to the table more of that which brought you here in the first place — the ‘money’ shots!

The best part?!  It doesn’t cost our readers anything extra to show their support!

If our readers do pick up some new gear, please drop us a line … we always love to hear about your new additions!

Comments, Praise, Feedback?  We’re all ears!

Please let us know what you thought of this post on ishootreno.com!

Super-Happy Fun Bonus Pic!!!

Toots and The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Hey, it's the I Shoot Reno guy!

Photos: Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011

Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
Pharoahe Monch with gas mask in full effect...

Its not everyday that you see someone wearing a gas mask.  In fact, the last time I saw someone wearing a gas mask was during a zombie apocalypse film; and truthfully, civilization just isn’t to that point yet.  Realistically, I probably just need to go to Burning Man, and then this might not seem so extraordinary to me.  On the other hand, during that rainy evening of Sunday, June 5th, it was pure magic.

By magic, I’m referring to the stellar lineup found at The Underground in Reno, NV which was comprised of a slew of local musicians (NoBody Really we’re looking your direction), artists (Ashley Drake you’re awesome) and the hip hop legend whose parking spot I almost (unknowingly) stole, Pharoahe Monch.

As the show began, DJ Boogie Blind (X-Ecutioners), MeLa Machinko and Showtyme took the stage in saluting poses, the crowd packed in tightly against the monitors and our shutter began clicking away.  After a quick swipe from stage right to center and back again, I was in the perfect position to capture Pharoahe Monch’s arrival, gas mask and all.

In the two earlier postings from the evening of June 5th, I had noted that the venue was quite dark, especially if the performer(s) didn’t step all the way up to the front of the stage, extending themselves over the monitors. This did make for a challenging shoot, but luckily I was prepared for the worst, and hoping for the best.

That being said, I found that while shooting on my Nikon D7000 (Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens) it was important to keep the aperture wide open at 1.8, my shutter speed relatively fast at 1/250th of a second and the ISO cranked up to 3200.  Admittedly, my thumb did take the shutter speed up a little bit accidentally at a couple moments in the evening (1/200th of a second was the fastest I noted), which may or may not be represented in one or more shots in the full gallery.

There are several crowd shots also included in the gallery, as there was an obvious and direct connection between those performing on-stage and the excitement found in the air, shared throughout the room.  In short, this was a show to remember for everyone in attendance, for a period lasting no less than a lifetime.

VIEW THE FULL PHAROAHE MONCH GALLERY HERE

DJ Boogie Blind with Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
DJ Boogie Blind of X-Ecutioners rockin' the wheels of steel...
Mela Machinko with Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
MeLa Machinko performing alongside Pharoahe Monch at The Underground...
Showtyme with Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
Showtyme laying down soulful vocals alongside Pharoahe Monch on June 5th...
Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
Pharoahe Monch taking full control of the mic, the audience and the room...
Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
Always in touch with the audience, Pharoahe Monch keeps it rockin'...
Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
The gas mask comes back out...

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

Do you buy stuff online? Do you buy camera stuff online? If this post or anything else on ishootreno.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and making your next photo gear, music or general purchase through one of our affiliate links:

Every time our readers buy new gear through our affiliate links, it helps us bring to the table more of that which brought you here in the first place — the ‘money’ shots!

The best part?!  It doesn’t cost our readers anything extra to show their support!

If our readers do pick up some new gear, please drop us a line … we always love to hear about your new additions!

Comments, Praise, Feedback?  We’re all ears!

Please let us know what you thought of this post on ishootreno.com!

Super-Happy Fun Bonus Pic!!!

Pharoahe Monch @ The Underground, Reno, NV 2011
Reno knows how to party, even on a rainy Sunday night...